January 13, 2013 by Darlene

HMRRC Winter Series #3 10K Race Report

Hudson Mohawk Runners Club sponsors FREE races throughout the winter for its members. The course is pretty boring but free is free and this 10K distance fit right in with my Half Marathon training schedule.

So I signed up and hoped the conditions would be ok for running.

We are having a kinda heat wave – in the 40s for January is warm. I debated about what to wear for awhile. I decided on tights, long sleeve shirt, windbreaker, baseball cap & light gloves.

The race started at 10 am (I got to sleep in 2 days in a row.) I thought I left early enough but I forgot that there is never enough parking. I drove around 2 lots that were full before parking in a lot where you had to walk a bit (yeah, I know I am a runner. Why would I park close?)

I still arrived in time. I took a gu & some water & signed in (I had pre-registered so no line 🙂 )

I bumped into several people that I knew – 2 SRMs, someone (John S.) that I used to work with & someone (Colleen) that I currently work with.)

dreary & foggy

I chatted until it was time to go outside.

I’m in yellow heading down the stairs (JBerkley photo)

Then we walked to the start & I pushed into the crowd – there were probably at least 300 total runners. (for the 3m, 10k & 25K)

Melissa, Elisa & friend ready to run!

I was chilly at first. I always forget how windy it is on this campus. But eventually I got warm and then when it got windy, I felt chilled.

Doesn’t Melissa look cold? (JBerkley photo)

I also forgot how many hills there are. They’re not bad but they’re annoying when the wind is blowing in your face.

I definitely felt out of shape – winded from my lack of running & my cold. My ankle ached off and on but it was bearable. As I got tired, my lower back ached as well.

You can see my arm – I am running with the 25kers – I work with Colleen in pink (JBerkley photo)

There were no mile markers so I was glad I wore my Garmin. It kept me on track. I wanted to keep a steady pace & not run too fast or too slow.

I wanted to walk but held out until the water stop at the beginning of mile 4 and then again during the end of mile 5.

I was pretty proud that I did. Races are definitely motivators for me. I know I would have walked a lot more & quit after 5 if I weren’t running a race.

It seemed that everyone passed me by (and they did.) but I repeated to myself – “Run smart. Don’t overdo.”

On the last turn of this boring course, I asked if I was going the right way for the 10k, and the volunteer said “yes, you’re it.” I took that to mean that I was last and I took off (and even passed some old guy.)

So I did sprint through the finish line of the my second 10K & crossed at 1:08:18.

I finished 215 out of 224. Phew, I wasn’t last.

And believe it or not, it was a PR. I finished my first 10k at 1:09 (in between injuries.)

I went inside and found a familiar face.

sweaty hair post race photo

Then I had some soup, hot chocolate, cranberry bread & cookies. Not bad for a free race.

As for my goals –

A. Run the whole thing.
B. PR (under 1:09)
C. Not finish last.
D. Finish upright

All except A achieved!!

My splits:

mile 1 – 10:43
mile 2 – 11:04
mile 3 – 11:06
mile 4 – 11:34 (water stop & walked)
mile 5 – 11:17 (walked)
mile 6 – 11:04
.2 – 8:19

So I am happy. I got my work cut out for me but it’s a start. Week 3 is over. Now onto WEEK 4.

Happy Running! Did you run or race this weekend?

January 12, 2013 by Darlene

A Productive Saturday

Sometimes life takes precedence over running.

I really wanted to run with the SRMs in their Virtual 5K for Sandy Hook. I haven’t seen those runners in a long time!!

I was there in spirit – Thanks Felice for organizing!

Today is also my long run (according to my training schedule.)

But with last weekend being spent in bed, today I needed to:

sleep late (working all week & being sick has taken its toll)
go grocery shopping (the fridge is empty)
do laundry (my hubby has no undewear)
clean up the house (clutter, clutter everywhere)
get my nails done (about a month overdue)
return books to the library
return a Christmas present
buy stuff for my foodie penpal
take down the Christmas decorations (finally)
cook dinner (haven’t done that all week)

Believe it or not, I DID IT ALL!

I even went on a purging rampage – got rid of old cookbooks, old computer books, about 20 coffee mugs, old medecines, old expired food and more.

Now I can relax and plan my next run

Tomorrow I am going to do the HMRRC Winter Series Race – the 10k and it’s at 10am, close by and FREE!

I missed my 5 mile run last weekend but I am going to try to run 6.2 miles anyway to stay on schedule.

I know it’s just a training run but if I said I just wanted to finish I’d be lying.

So here are my goals:

A. Run the whole thing.
B. PR (under 1:09)
C. Not finish last.
D. Finish upright.

Happy Running! Do you ever put running second? Do you have goals for every race?

January 11, 2013 by Darlene

Bad Runs Happen

I felt like this but I was on the road…

Sometimes a run just sucks. Sometimes life just sucks. But we all have to move on right? Yesterday after work, I had a no good, very bad, awful run.

I was still very congested from my cold, I hadn’t been sleeping and I had eaten a large late lunch.

I tried to get myself in the mood to go for a run but that was just not happening. I just wanted to go home and crawl into bed with a book.

But I had missed 2 runs while being sick so I just wasn’t going to let it happen again. On my way to the neighborhood where I have been running lately, I decided that I was going to run at least 3 miles (if it killed me) but I really wanted to run 4 or 5.

Once I actually got on the road though, I realized this run was going to be tough, mentally and physically.

My legs felt like lead. My chest hurt. My stomach was too full. I wanted to quit after 2 miles. I dragged myself to 3 miles and then I willed myself to do 4.

Yeah, I walked some but got it done.

Usually I get down on myself and question my running ability. I wonder how I am ever going to 13.1 miles if I can’t run 3. My pace is 12-13 min/mile. How embarrassing is that? I’m not fast but I could run 9-10 min/miles. Maybe I should give it up. Wah wah wah…

Instead, the type A me analyzed the situation:

You’ve had 2 injuries. The 2nd one before you totally recovered from the first.
You’ve been sick. It’s hard to run when you can’t breathe.
Running on a full stomach — stupid!
You always run better in the morning. Gotta do an AM run soon.
Even when you raced well, you had BAD training runs. You need to run a race!
What about music…gotta charge that iPod and listen to some tunes!
4 crappy miles are better than zero miles
Get over it… bad runs happen!

Thanks Ryan. I don’t mind if you do!

So today is a rest day (and it is raining/sleeting)!

I haven’t decided about the weekend. I signed up for a virtual 5K tomorrow with friends and a 10K on Sunday.

I will either do the 5k & add 3 miles afterwards or the race but not both.

I know both will be fine — running with others is always motivating.

Happy Running! How do you deal with bad runs?

January 6, 2013 by Darlene

2013 So Far..So Bad

The one thing about blogging is that I can keep track of things.

So I know that since March 2008, I had a cold in Sept 2009 and in July 2011. That’t it. Until now…

I started feeling a sore throat on New Year’s Eve. Then Thursday evening, it started appearing…A COLD! It was in full force at work on Friday. No one wanted to be near me. So I skipped my run and Mah Jongg Friday eve and went to bed early. Saturday I was supposed to go to NYC with 2 friends to spend the day with a girl I met in Russia.

I woke up Saturday am feeling even worse & knew I couldn’t go (I did have to drive to the train station at 7 am cuz I had all the tix.)

Sunday was supposed to be my long run – 5 miles. My mega cold had progressed to adding a headache and nausea…Great! No running for me!!!

As I write this, I am on the road to recovery and will go to work tomorrow. Tomorrow nite, I go back to playing tennis and hopefully I can go back to running on Tuesday!!!

So this Half Marathon training thing is not off to a good start:

Week 1 – 3, 3, 5 – 11 miles
Week 2 – 3, 3, 0, 0 – 6 miles

I will try not to stress about it.

What ever happens, happens.

I had planned not to run 2 days in a row so I don’t get injured but we’ll see. I also want to increase my long runs gradually so that means 6 miles this Sat or Sun.

That’s enough of being a Debbie Downer. My injuries and illnesses are over for 2013!!!!

Happy Running! Any advice for injury-free training for a Half Marathon?

January 3, 2013 by Darlene

2013 Running Goals

This may be cheating but I had some great goals for 2012 but with two injuries, I didn’t get a chance to see if I could accomplish them.

So here they are again:

Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)
Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training)
Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!)
Get an Age Group award (in May I will be entering a new AG!!)
PR in a 10K race (I have only one injured 10K under my belt.)
Run a 10 mile race (the one from Lake George to Bolton Landing is on my bucket List)
Run at least one half marathon (a spring and a fall one)
Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible)
Run a race in another state
Run a NEW race (hopefully one in NYC)
Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get injured…)
Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…)

Hope I have better luck this year.

However, my real 2013 goal is to be HEALTHY and HAPPY!!!

Happy Running! Do you set new running goals each year?

January 2, 2013 by Darlene

2012 Recap (in Photos)

And it wasn’t all bad…

Here it is month by month in photos. ENJOY!

JANUARY

Jimmy Buffet-themed birthday party for one of my Lake George friends

FEBRUARY

I knit my first sock

MARCH

I started biking

APRIL

I started walking at lunch

MAY

I celebrated my birthday in Florida

JUNE

I started running again

JULY

I started playing tennis again

AUGUST

I cooled off every weekend in the lake

SEPTEMBER

I had a 2nd visit from Anna from Russia

OCTOBER

I spent time with my 2 fav little guys

NOVEMBER

I had a surprise visit from a friend who moved to Florida

DECEMBER

I got to go to Orlando with friends

Happy Running! Hope you had a good year! What was the highlight?

January 1, 2013 by Darlene

2012 – Thank God It’s Over

322 miles in 2012

Broken tibia & fibula & surgery to repair in my left ankle and then a stress fracture in my right foot= NOT A GOOD RUNNING YEAR

Jan 2012

Oct 2012

I had running goals for the year and then I re-wrote them after my first injury. Then I was doing better than expected so I re-wrote them again. When I had my second injury of the year, I gave up on running goals and left them as they were at the time:

~~Run 3-4 times a week ALL YEAR (use the treadmill when it is too cold or slippery or raining outside)~~ Follow doctor’s orders and stay off ankle until allowed, go to PT and do the recommended exercises, and start to run when & as often as recommended. 5 MONTHS of PT and then STARTED RUNNING in JUNE.
~~Continue fitting in tennis and yoga at least once a week (as cross-training)~~ Same as above, start tennis & yoga when allowed, join a gym to do crosstraining/machines to stay fit. STARTED TENNIS IN AUGUST BUT DID NOT JOIN A GYM OR CROSS-TRAIN. GOT RE-INJURED BEFORE STARTING UP YOGA.
~~Finish my 5K races under 30 minutes and not stress about a PR (though getting one would be super!)~~ Run a 5k race before the end of the year, if I am able to run several, get faster with each one. RAN 9 5K RACES AFTER MY ANKLE INJURY (GOT FASTER) AND THEN RAN 1 AFTER MY FOOT INJURY.
~~Get an Age Group award~~ – NO
~~Run a 10K race~~ – YES.
~~Run a 10 mile race.~~ NO
~~Run at least one half marathon~~NO4. Start to train for a half marathon in 2013. DELAYED START BUT STARTED LAST WEEK.
~~Run at least 12 races (one per month, if possible)~~ (DID NOT RUN ANY IN JAN-MAY and NOVEMBER)
~~Run a race in another state~~YES in PA.
5. Run a NEW race. YES – RAN 8 NEW RACES!!
6. Listen to my body and slow down when necessary (In other words, do not get re-injured…) UH OH…TOTAL FAIL.
7. Continue blogging regularly (to keep track of miles, as a motivator, to meet new runners…) YES, YES.
8. Volunteer at a race. NO 😦
9. Bring a cell phone whenever I go running alone. YES!

10. Run a 10 K race. YES! in August.

11. Finish a 5K race under 30 minutes. YES! 1 in Sept.

12. Run 12 races. YES!

So it wasn’t the year that I had planned but I guess it could have been worse. Here are the highlights:

ran a 5K in June – earlier than expected!

met Joan Benoit Samuelson!

ran my 1st 10k

crossed under 30 minutes in a 5K (1st time since 2011)

ran a new race in a new state (& with a stress fracture)

race #12

Stay tuned for my 2013 Goals!

Happy Running! Did you have goals for 2012? If so, how did you do?

December 31, 2012 by Darlene

Sandy Hook Elementary Memorial Virtual 5K

the bib

This was organized by Beth & Ben in Tampa, Fl. For $20, you got a Bib and a Medal and you supported the school. Plus, you ran 3.1 or 13.1 miles.

I would have done it by myself but I was lucky that The Happy Runner organized it on FB so I could run with some great ladies.

However, weather conditions (icy roads) forced Felice to cancel.

At first I was relieved so not to worry about the hills & falling on the ice. But then, I was psyched to run. It’s not often that I am off on a weekday. So I decided to do it on my own (just in case when they re-schedule I am not free – I will be away Jan 5 and Jan 19-23).

oops! I left my bib at work.

I chose the same route as I ran on Saturday but it was a lot more slushy and slippery!!

I had to run in the middle of the road and then move over every day a car went by in either direction. So it was slow going but I got it done (even had negative splits).

Now I won’t feel so guilty indulging at the dinner party that we are going to tonight!

Happy Running! Did you participate in the 5K or Half?

December 29, 2012 by Darlene

Week 1 & My Anniversary

Yes, half marathon training has begun and 2 snowstorms have happened as well.

Sun – 4 miles
Tues – 3 miles
Thurs – 3 miles
Today, Sat – 5 miles

But I successfully ran every other day… 11 weeks to go!!

Last night was my annual tennis party…it was fun but I over ate again!!

several entertained us by playing the piano

one of our friends moved to Florida so we skyped with her

lots of appetizers and desserts!!

we had a Chinese gift exchange which is always fun

This morning I slept in and barely made it through my run before the snowstorm. I had planned to go the Nisky bike trail (the scene of the accident) but decided to stay local due to the impending snowfall.

I went to the same neighborhood but ran in a different direction. I didn’t wear my Yak Trax but stayed in the road looking for dry turf and watching for black ice.

And I succeeded but after 3 miles my stomach started growling. I haven’t done a long run in a year so I need to remember to drink water and bring some Gu.

4.5 miles done and off for some nourishment

I went back to my car and got some money and headed off to the coffee shop.

this did the trick!

But I left the coffee shop to this:

SNOW!!

glad I only had .5 mile to run/slide.

and today is my ONE YEAR Anniversary…a year ago today, I fell during a 10 mile run. I slipped on the ice and broke my ankle in several places & had surgery. I didn’t run for 5 months.

I wasn’t sure I would get through it but I did.

Yes many people said to give up running. I knew that I would not.

I am running again. I may never get the speed back but I am running again!!

To celebrate, I ran today and I even wore almost the same outfit.

Happy Running! Have you ever had a run-threatening injury?